LOCAL NEWS

Rising population contributes to Utah’s air pollution, but air quality is improving over the long term

Nov 30, 2023, 6:17 PM | Updated: 6:19 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Experts say that with Utah’s population growing and more people adding to air quality problems, we should all do our part to improve our air.

Utahns’ emission-producing habits have returned to their pre-pandemic levels, and Utah’s pollution problem was on display Thursday, with Utah County seeing the worst air quality in the state. Air Quality in Utah County was at the orange level, making it unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Still, this kind of pollution is not unusual for November, and snow on the valley floors worsens inversions.

At the same time, Utah’s overall air pollution problems are going down and are significantly better than they were ten years ago.

That’s thanks to a number of larger pollution contributors that have been cut back over time: big polluters like factories, more efficient vehicles, and even better consumer products like ovens and nail polish have made Utah’s overall air quality better.

Still, everyone needs to be aware of how they add to the problem.

Bryce Bird, director of the Air Quality Division at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, weighed in on the issue.

“Our per capita emissions are going down,” Bird explained. “So even though we’re adding more population, the past strategies — the improvements in vehicle technologies, those improvements again in large industrial sources — have been effective. But those could be overwhelmed over time.”

At the same time, Bird said people should all take precautions any time there are air quality issues like those seen Thursday, even if they’re not considered part of a sensitive or at-risk group.

Bird explained anytime the pollution gets out of the green (or good) level, everyone should take precautions. That means bringing workouts inside, carpooling, using public transit, working from home, or whatever you can do to cut back on emissions.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Four separate crashes caused significant delays in Parleys Canyon on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (UDOT...

Mary Culbertson

4 separate crashes in Parleys Canyon cause major delays, minor injuries

Westbound traffic in Parleys Canyon was backed up after four separate crashes on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

43 minutes ago

Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, talks with supporters while at the Utah GOP party in Draper on Tuesday ...

Associated Press

AP Race Call: Republican Burgess Owens wins reelection to U.S. House in Utah’s 4th Congressional District

Republican Rep. Burgess Owens won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Utah on Wednesday.

5 hours ago

Rep.-elect Celeste Maloy will be sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives on Tuesday ev...

Associated Press

AP Race Call: Republican Celeste Maloy wins reelection to U.S. House in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District

Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Utah on Wednesday.

7 hours ago

silver cuffs on a black background...

Alton Barnhart

Man attacked pedestrian with a baseball bat, police say

A man is arrested for attacking a pedestrian with a baseball bat at 7692 S. Main Street in Salt Lake County.

9 hours ago

3rd Congressional District candidate Mike Kennedy gives remarks after declaring victory during a wa...

Associated Press

AP Race Call: Republican Mike Kennedy wins election to U.S. House in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District

Republican Mike Kennedy wins election to U.S. House in Utah's 3rd Congressional District.

9 hours ago

Blake Moore during a 1st Congressional District GOP primary debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center i...

Associated Press

Republican Blake Moore wins reelection to U.S. House in Utah’s 1st Congressional District

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Blake Moore wins reelection to U.S. House in Utah's 1st Congressional District.

9 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

Rising population contributes to Utah’s air pollution, but air quality is improving over the long term